The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-12-29
PEACE ON EARTH.
BIZ PEN: FIELD.

D1 Z xSS A6ADs
aThen you do not love me,
Maud; you only feel sorry for me;
sorry, perhaps, that your love for
me has faded, leaving only the Bit
ter ashes of regret; for oh! Maud,
my wife, you did love me when you
became my bride; assure me of that
at least" and Will Mayer strobe to
his wife's side as though to clasp
her in his eager arms but one
glance at her calm, passionless face
and his extended arms fell heavily
to his side, while the pallor of an
guish settled more despairingly on
his manly face.
"Yes, Will, God knows loved
you then, and for the first three
years / was happy AS mortal can
be, but soon after that disconrent
crept into my heart, without cause,
| admit. You know how / have
flung myself into one mania after
another. Painting, etching, music,
embroidery and cooking have each
had their day; our home is filled
with the results; but my heart has
grown empty, empty, until l love
no one, not even my husband as
she finished, having spoken in
slow, monotonous voice, utterly
without feeling, her husband lifted
mis- head, saying:
''Then Maud you love no other
man?"
A slow smile of scorn fitted over
her delicate features, as she re-
piled:
You know / donot. 1t / did, ]
would not remain by your side one
hour, knowing myself to be trail
tor. Will,do not judge me harshly?
l have tried so hard to force back
my old love for you, but it has on
ly made me cold and indifferent
not only to you, but every one"
Will put out his hand as though
to prevent her saying more; then
firmly lifted his heed determined to
leok this terrible trouble fairly in
the face, he said with white, quiz
ering lips:
"a desperate disease requires q
severe remedy. There is but one
thing to do. When / first read that
letter to your cousin, / rashly re-
solved to 60 away and go the devil
as fast as possible; but l hoped
against hope, deciding to tell you
about it, with this result. / can
not go to the devil-my self-respect
will not permit me, but ] am going
away for one year. No! hush! you
must hear me:-during that year we
will neither see nor hold communi-
cation with each other. You will
not even know where / am. You
will have an income of $3.50 per
month. You can have your cousin
come and remain with you for that
time. The world need only know
that l am called to Australia on
important business. At the end of
that time, if alive, 1 will surely re-
turn; 1 will again ask you that
question, if the answer is still the
same-oh! God! help mel cannot
even" and despite his iron self
control, his voice broke in heavy
sobs that rent his weary heart asun-
der. Maud went to him and slip
ping her shand in his, whispered
TREMENDOUSLY:
"Do not go, Will dear; I will be
tender, obedient wife she was
interrupted by Willis passionately
clasping her in his arms
Tell me you love me, Maud, and
l will stay. Look in my eyes and
tell me you love me, Maud, and
naught can tear me away" still
holding her close with one arm, he
lifted her bent head with the other
hand, aud eagerly looked In her
tell.tale eyes. All! there was no
passion, no love, in their clear
depths. With a bitter groan, he
loosed his hold; no need for her to
answer; those clear eyes could not
tell the lie her lips were trying to
frame.
"We will consider the matter set
tied, with hard. dry laugh. / do
not want tenderness or obedience
that is not dictated by love" and he
hastily left the room. Maud stood
where he had left her, with bitter
look of despair, as she murmured,
married five short years and it has
come to this, and ! only twenty-five
years old. Love lived out, for once
dead, it can never revive, and who
knows how many unhappy years are
yet my portion. If | cannot love
my noble husband, / can love no
other. Why, why am / 30 cold, so
Indifferent Slowly she paced the
floor until knock at the door was
followed by the entrance OF the
servant with note from Will:
Maud IL have written to your cous-
in requesting her to come to Chicago
for this year, as your guest-to come
Immediately. will not be home for
several days as have some little bust
ness affairs to attend to out of the city,
previous to my ATTENDED journey.
Have Lulu stay with you until your
cousin arrives. Your checks will be
honored. Nothing now remains to be
done for the present, believe.
Always loving,
TWILL.
Maud sat down listlessly by the
window overlooking Lincoln Park,
and over which tho cool lake breeze
came to gently play with her soft
brown hair, absolutely without a
thought. ONLY dull. depressed